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The improvement in the system of transportation, to a very great measure, increases the physical extent and economic size of a country.

However, in the Nigerian context, a number of factors have negatively affected the transport system and this has resulted in an astronomical rise in the prices of goods and services beyond the reach of a majority of the population.

The prohibitive transportation costs coupled with the multiple taxation across the country and the unabating insecurity have all succeeded in ensuring that Nigerians remain in a perpetual state of hunger and poverty.

Curiously, levels of government have channeled generated revenue from multiple taxes, unproductively, to real estate, while Nigerians continue to daily count their landed property losses.

Indeed, the government at all levels have always contended with inadequate financial organization and the relevant knowledge.

Sadly, economic stagnation is now a major characteristic in most cities that are contending with overpopulation. Petty trading and individual investments in consumables have become the preference of the people, in the absence of proactive, visionary leadership.

The Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, Eze(Dr.) Alex Anozie has declared that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, deserves the

award of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) Conferred on him by former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

Eze(Dr.) Anozie, who is also the chairman of the state chapter of the Association of Non-Indigenes Heads, made this decalration on recently in Ibadan, Nigeria

''I and my people, Ohanezenidgbo, and all non-indigenes in Ibadan and Oyo state appreciate the honor done to the Olubadan. He merits it because he is a peace-loving Olubadan, who loves all ethnic groups, all Nigerians residing in Ibadan. The Olubadan deserves it. I am therefore congratulating him and all Ibadan indigenes, because if the Olubadan gets something good, he has gotten it for himself and the whole Ibadan and vice versa. So, I am congratulating him. He is a very kind, humble and God-fearing person, who believes in truth, justice and fairness,'' Eze(Dr.) Anozie stated.

In another development, he admonished new political office holders at all levels of government to administer and oversee the affairs of those that elected them with the fear of God.

''Let them have the fear of God in everything they do. My good will message to all political office holders from top to bottom is for them to work for a truly united Nigeria where truth, justice, equity, fairness and peace reign supreme. Nigerians should love one another, not minding their ethnic and religious differences. This is the foundation. If we work hard, the sky is our limit,''Eze(Dr) Anozie noted.

John Chen and Lin Feng Allegedly Furthered the PRC Government’s Transnational Repression Campaign Against the Falun Gong by Bribing a Purported IRS Official

A federal court in the Southern District of New York today unsealed a complaint charging two individuals with acting and conspiring to act in the United States as unregistered agents of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), conspiring to bribe and bribing a public official, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to the complaint, John Chen, aka Chen Jun, 70, a Los Angeles resident and former citizen of the PRC, and Lin Feng, a Los Angeles resident and PRC citizen, allegedly participated in a PRC Government-directed scheme targeting U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong — a spiritual practice banned in the PRC. Chen and Feng were arrested today in the Central District of California.

“The Chinese government has yet again attempted, and failed, to target critics of the PRC here in the United States,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege the defendants in this case attempted to bribe someone they thought was an IRS agent in order to further the Chinese government’s campaign of transnational repression in the United States. But the individual they attempted to bribe was in fact an undercover law enforcement agent, and both defendants were arrested this morning. The Justice Department will continue to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute efforts by the PRC government to silence its critics and extend the reaches of its regime onto U.S. soil. We will never stop working to defend the rights to which every person in the United States is entitled.”

“The Department of Justice continues to expose the Chinese government’s brazen attempts to perpetrate transnational repression, this time through attempted bribery,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “As highlighted by today’s arrests and charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering, we will not tolerate efforts by the PRC or any foreign government to intimidate, harass, or undermine the rights and freedoms enjoyed by all who live in the United States.”

“China’s government has once again shown its disregard for the rule of law and international norms,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI will not tolerate CCP repression — its efforts to threaten, harass, and intimidate people — here in the United States. We will continue to confront the Chinese government’s efforts to violate our laws and repress the rights and freedoms of people in our country.”“No other nation poses as severe a threat to the democratic values of the United States as the government of the People’s Republic of China,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “The FBI will not stand by as the PRC attempts to weaponize our institutions and programs and attack the rights of those on U.S. soil. Any attempt to repress or harass individuals runs directly counter to the ideals our nation was founded upon, and it simply will not be tolerated. The FBI and our partners remain committed to confronting the illegal conduct of the PRC government that threatens our national security and freedom.”

“John Chen and Lin Feng allegedly waged a campaign at the behest of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to influence a U.S. Government official in order to further the PRC Government’s repression of practitioners of Falun Gong,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “Efforts to manipulate and use the arms of the U.S. Government to carry out the PRC Government’s autocratic aims are as shocking as they are insidious. My office will work vigorously to protect against malign foreign influences.”

The complaint alleges that from at least approximately January 2023 to May 2023, Chen and Feng worked inside the United States at the direction of the PRC government, including an identified PRC government official (PRC Official-1), to further the PRC government’s campaign to repress and harass Falun Gong practitioners. The PRC Government has designated the Falun Gong as one of the “five poisons,” or one of the top five threats to its rule. In China, Falun Gong adherents face a range of repressive and punitive measures from the PRC government, including imprisonment and torture.                 

As part of the PRC government’s campaign against the Falun Gong, Chen and Feng allegedly engaged in a PRC government-directed scheme to manipulate the IRS’s Whistleblower Program in an effort to strip the tax-exempt status of an entity run and maintained by Falun Gong practitioners (Entity-1). After Chen filed a defective whistleblower complaint with the IRS (the Chen Whistleblower Complaint), Chen and Feng paid $5,000 in cash bribes, and promised to pay substantially more, to a purported IRS agent who was in fact an undercover officer (Agent-1), in exchange for Agent-1’s assistance in advancing the complaint. Neither Chen nor Feng notified the Attorney General that they were acting as agents of the PRC government in the United States.

In the course of the scheme, Chen, on a recorded call, explicitly noted that the purpose of paying these bribes, which were directed and funded by the PRC government, was to carry out the PRC government’s aim of “toppl[ing] . . . the Falun Gong.” During a call intercepted pursuant to a judicially authorized wiretap, Chen and Feng discussed receiving “direction” on the bribery scheme from PRC Official-1, deleting instructions received from PRC Official-1 in order to evade detection, and “alert[ing]” and “sound[ing] the alarm” to PRC Official-1 if Chen and Feng’s meetings to bribe Agent-1 did not go as planned. Chen and Feng also discussed that PRC Official-1 was the PRC Government official “in charge” of the bribery scheme targeting the Falun Gong.

As part of this scheme, Chen and Feng allegedly met with Agent-1 in Newburgh, New York, on May 14.  During the meeting, Chen gave Agent-1 a $1,000 cash bribe as an initial, partial bribe payment. Chen further offered to pay Agent-1 a total of $50,000 for opening an audit of Entity-1, as well as 60% of any whistleblower award from the IRS if the Chen Whistleblower Complaint were successful. On May 18, Feng paid Agent-1 a $4,000 cash bribe at John F. Kennedy International Airport as an additional partial bribe payment in furtherance of the scheme. Chen allegedly obtained funding from the PRC government to make bribe payments during his trips to the PRC in the course of the scheme.

Chen and Feng are each charged with (1) one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General and to bribe a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; (2) one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; (3) one count of bribing a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and (4) one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The FBI New York and Los Angeles Field Offices and Counterintelligence Division are investigating the case with valuable assistance provided by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shiva H. Logarajah, Qais Ghafary, Michael D. Lockard, and Kathryn Wheelock for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Christina A. Clark of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

The charges in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source-FBI

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shiva H. Logarajah, Qais Ghafary, Michael D. Lockard, and Kathryn Wheelock for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Christina A. Clark of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

The charges in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven

The omission and commission of the leadership in all spheres of life in Nigeria, has brought the country to its present worrisome state.
In his views, the Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, who is also the Head of the Association of Non-Indiggenes in Oyo state, Eze(Dr.) Alex Anozie maintains that the emergence of a good and God-fearing leadership in Nigeria will change the narrative.
Excerpts:

God created this world very beautifully so that man should live peacefully and happily.
But due to selfish, wicked, conscienceless leaders, the world is on fire.
 There are crises everywhere. Human lives are wasted on a daily basis. I am saying it loud and clear,that anywhere there are crises, most of such are caused by bad leadership. Ordinary people are very ready to live peacefully with each other, if well led, and well governed, no matter their ethnic and religious differences, they can live peacefully together. Politicians should come to help in this situation.
If there is good and God-fearing leadership anywhere, there would be peace in that country or society. Good leadership means leadership where justice, equity, fairness and the fear of God reigns. A leadership where citizens condemn injustice, deceit and fraud, lawlessness, no matter whose ox is gored.
A leadership that does things the right way, because no matter whatever anyone is doing, if you do the right thing the wrong way, you are wrong. If you do the wrong thing the right way, you are still wrong, but when things are done the right way, everything will move on right and there will be peace everywhere.
Bad leadership is the problem the world is always having.
I am of the firm belief that with good leaders, most wars all over the world will be minimized. It is either the leaders are corrupt, or they are selfish, leaving the right thing that promotes justice and sanity and doing the wrong things that promote injustice, hardship and hatred among the citizens.

In Nigeria now, those who think that they are  enjoying the music as they look on, ethnic groups abusing and insulting themselves, should have a rethink. Let us all Nigerians join hands and voices together in condemning that which is evil, and encourage that which is good, for the good and unity and peace of our dear country.
I am saying this because a stitch in time saves nine. Let us forget our ethnic and religious differences and call a spade a spade. Only the truth can set us free in this country.

Mona Faiz Montrage Received Over $2 Million in Fraud Proceeds and Pretended to Marry One Victim to Further the Fraud Scheme

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a six-count Indictment charging MONA FAIZ MONTRAGE for her role in a series of romance schemes and for laundering the proceeds of those schemes.  MONTRAGE was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023.  MONTRAGE will be presented before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, to whom the case is assigned, later today.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams.  These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims.  Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, Montrage was arrested abroad and has been brought to the United States to face justice.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “We alleged today that Ms. Montrage participated in multiple romance scams – often targeting elderly victims – resulting in more than $2 million in fraudulent funds under her control.  Romance scams – especially those that target older individuals – are of major concern.  The FBI will be tireless in our efforts to hold fraudsters accountable in the criminal justice system.”

As alleged in the Indictment and other publicly filed materials. From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, MONTRAGE was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in West Africa that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the United States, including romance scams. 

Many of the Enterprise’s romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone.  The Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships with a person who had, in fact, a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise.  Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise.

MONTRAGE is a Ghanaian public figure who rose to fame as an influencer through her Instagram profile, under the username “Hajia4Reall,” which at one point had approximately 3.4 million Instagram followers and was among the top 10 profiles with the most followers in Ghana.

MONTRAGE received money from several victims of romance frauds whom members of the Enterprise tricked into sending money.  Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to MONTRAGE were (i) payments to transport gold to the United States from overseas; (ii) payments to resolve a fake FBI unemployment investigation; and (iii) payments to assist a fake United States army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.

As to one victim, MONTRAGE used her real name and spoke to the victim several times by phone.  MONTRAGE sent the victim a tribal marriage certificate purporting to show that MONTRAGE and the victim had been married in Ghana.  The victim sent MONTRAGE approximately 82 wire transfers totaling approximately $89,000 to purportedly help with costs associated with MONTRAGE’s father’s farm in Ghana.

In total, MONTRAGE controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise.

*                *                *

MONTRAGE, 30, of Accra, Ghana, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of money laundering, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  MONTRAGE is also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of MONTRAGE will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI.  Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Marshals Services, the National Extradition Unit, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI Legal Attaché in London for their assistance in the investigation.  The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from the United Kingdom.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

In Nigeria, millions of citizens, most especially the poor and vulnerable, remain without internet access.
For a long time, internet users have had to  put up with very sub-standard services.
This is as a result of inefficiency and inadequate infrastructure.
Sadly, most of those who are fortunate to have internet access use it negatively.
Indeed, digital literacy is a major challenge across the country and this has translated to limited internet use in most  sectors of the economy.
Youths have taken to crime due to the attitude of the leadership at all levels of government, while pornographic content has exposed minors to immoral acts.
Of worry, is the lack of funding for research and infrastructure for Information and Communication Technology(ICT) by today's leadership.
The Backbone
The Nigerian youth involved in crime is not acting alone, some of those in positions of authority are his or her backbone. This becomes glaring when an individual takes a keen interest in unfolding events.

Banks in Nigeria have now opted for electricity/DSTV bills, community security payment receipts and building plans as means of identification of their customers rather than the National Identification Number(NIN).
Customers argue that this has defeated the Federal Government's original purpose of introducing the NIN, while the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) seems to have lost a firm grip on the banks.

This action of the banks coupled with a number of unwholesome practices have made it impossible for Nigerians to salvage their money from the affected banks.
Just last week, a customer with Access bank account No.-9993577288 was shocked when he was told by the customer service officers in the three branches of the bank he visited-Agodi/UCH 1 AND 2, Challenge, Ibadan, Nigeria, that he would need to present  the latest electricity or DSTV bill or community security payment receipt for documentation for him to withdraw money from his account.
As a result of this development and the issue of non-reversal of several online transactions, money belonging to customers is still trapped in these banks.
In his reaction, a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze lamented that the banks have for long played on the intelligence of NIGERIANS.
''Huge amounts of money are in these banks belonging to customers, the hard-earned money of Nigerians is hanging in these banks, most of the remittances  have not been made by these banks and virtually nothing has been done by the Central Bank of Nigeria to rescue customers. Besides, banks have been very exploitative and have continually cheated Nigerians. They no longer give interest in savings and any transaction made attracts a number of hidden charges. The banks, just like vampires, are sucking Nigerians dry,'' Comrade Emelieze noted.

 

Nigerians have reacted divergently over the just concluded registration exercise of unemployed Nigerians by the National Directorate of Employment(NDE) across the nation, days to the expiration of the life span of the present administration.
Indeed, the exercise was characterized by allegations of corruption, favoritism, influence peddling and political patronage.
A cross section of unemployed Nigerians alleged that some unscrupulous staff of the directorate took advantage of the exercise to enrich themselves.
They also alleged that those who were fortunate to be registered were supporters of politically exposed people, while stressing that the registration was not for full-time paid employment, but rather were registered for training programs for the unskilled.
Sadly, the beneficiaries are insignificant compared to the millions of jobless Nigerians.
Nigerians express disappointment over the negotiations by some staff members of the government agency with politicians, while lamenting that the exercise was limited to those who benefitted from such negotiations.
Indeed, the exercise may not have successfully captured genuine unemployed Nigerians.

Over the years, politicians have consistently influenced the recruitment process for the civil and public services.
This has resulted in the sacrificing of merit for other considerations.
In her reaction, the Oyo state Coordinator of the NDE, Mrs. Olayemi described the allegations as malicious and unfounded, adding,''it has nothing to do with my staff members except you have documentary evidence. No kobo was taken from anybody. The exercise was absolutely free. It has nothing to do with my office. Let them mention the name of one of my members of staff. I can vouch for my staff members, nobody will risk that. As far as I know, nobody has come to complain to me. We registered 8,000 people from the 33 local governments in Oyo state.
In his view, a cleric, Pastor Opeyemi Ajayi lamented that the low quality of workforce in most sectors of the economy has almost brought Nigeria to its knees.
''When you sacrifice merit for ethnic, religious and other factors in the employment process, what you will get is unqualified employees. Look at the civil and public services. It is in a state of rot and this has affected the economy negatively. Redundancy  is the order of the day in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
For the chairman, Non-Acamdic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU) University College Hospital(UCH) Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Kehinde Abiona, the major challenge is not redundancy, but shortage of staff.
''When we are talking about understaff, you are talking about redundancy. Workers should be diligent in their duties. This is why it is only a diligent worker that is relevant,'' Comrade Abiona stated.
However, a former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC) Comrade Andrew Emelieze believes that the exercise has only succeeded in ridiculing frustrated and impoverished Nigerians.
''The exercise coming less than 25 days to the end of this administration, serves to only ridicule frustrated and hungry Nigerians, most of whom are housewives, okada riders, petty traders and artisans. Look at them on the queue. This is unfortunate.'' Comrade Emelieze concluded.

The education sector is weighed down by multiferous challenges in Nigeria.

Sadly, the education policy of a number of states may not be responsive to the needs and problems of primary and secondary schools.

The focus on hotels, eateries, night clubs, beer parlors and event centers by some state governments has psychologically defeated the interest of pupils and students in education.

The existing schools in the affected states are yet to be satisfactorily catered for and this has resulted in the unimpressive academic performance of pupils and students.

Of worry, is the conversion of so many schools to a base and launch pad for criminals of all sorts, while school authorities are benefiting commercially from the rentage of classrooms and premises to members of the public.

The attitude of government and other stakeholders in the education sector is suggestive of a mounting opposition to learning.

The Resort to Hard Drugs

Illicit and outlawed substances are now in regular use and abuse among the young and old in several communities in Nigeria. How did these hard drugs get into the country? Only those in charge of law enforcement are in a position to provide an answer. Perhaps.

Workers in several states in Nigeria have expressed worries over the unresolved issues surrounding the national minimum wage, contributory pension scheme and other related challenges.
Their worries are further heigthened by the prolonged slience of labor leaders in the face of increasing challenges confronting workers in the affected states as a result of the unresolved issues.
Sadly, some labor unions benefited  financially from state governments and politically exposed people in the just concluded general elections in exchange for electoral support.
In a related development, the chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions(NASU), University College Hospital(UCH) branch, Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Kehinde Abiona has called on the members of the union to remain calm as the union awaits a new date for elections from its national headquarters.
''Presently, the branch is waiting for the directive of the national headquarters of the union on the new date for elections. I implore our members to be law abiding and continue to give us their individual loyalty and we promise to continue to stand in the gap between members and management anytime and any day. The union has waxed stronger since the procedure to elect new branch leaders was disrupted. The sitting executives are yet to be dissolved. The Abiona-led executive is still in charge of the branch.''

Meanwhile, the UCH branch of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals(NUAHP) has insisted that the Oladayo Olabampe-led executives believe in the sacredness of transparency and accountability.
This position was made known on behalf of the union by its Public Relation Officer, Dr. Daniel Adejobi.
''This administration runs an open administration.''
The union's insistence is coming on the heels of allegations levelled against the branch executives by some members(names not mentioned to avoid victimization).
The allegations are hinged on corruption, high-handedness, lack of accountability and insensitivity.
However, Dr. Adejobi maintained that his response to the allegations would only come when the identities of the members are verified.
''I have to verify that the allegations are coming from the right quarters. I will need to have proof that the allegations are coming from my members  before I respond. It may be concocted. On a general note, none of the allegations are true, except if you have proof of the members that made the allegations,'' he stated.